Lawyer: New inquest needed

12 September 2012 05:41

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A lawyer acting for the families of Hillsborough victims believes a new inquest is the minimum requirement following Tuesday's revelations.

The 389-page report by the Hillsborough Independent Panel, which looked at thousands of documents relating to the disaster, confirmed South Yorkshire Police had sought to blame fans by instructing officers to change or amend their statements relating to the events of April 15, 1989.

Prime Minister David Cameron, in a statement to the House of Commons, admitted families had suffered a "double injustice", both in the "failure of the state to protect their loved ones and the indefensible wait to get to the truth", and in the efforts to denigrate the deceased and suggest they were "somehow at fault for their own deaths".

James Saunders, of London-based 'litigation powerhouse' Saunders Law, believes anyone found to have altered evidence should be brought to book.

"I am privileged to act for the Hillsborough Family Support Group who have campaigned with persistence and great dignity over many years for the truth to be told about the Hillsborough tragedy," said Saunders in a statement.

"The HIP report published today is a truly damning indictment of officials and processes that have concealed the truth about Hillsborough for so long.

"The very people charged with looking after the safety of those Liverpool FC fans who died not only allowed and caused what happened, but then lied to avoid the blame, and cruelly blamed the victims for the failures.

"The welcome statements today by David Cameron and politicians from all parties start the healing process but a new inquest is required - the families and the public deserve this.

"It is for Dominic Grieve, the Attorney General, to make an application to the High Court to quash the current inquest verdict which was based on evidence that had been tampered with, and an untrue picture of events.

"Only then can a new inquest look to find the truth in public as is required.

"I would want to properly consider the vast body of new evidence before taking other steps, but it may well be that those persons who have lied, concealed and distorted evidence should now be brought to account before the law personally."